Herman Zapp, Tehue, 4, Candelaria Zapp, with (front, from left) Paloma, 2, Pampa, 7 and Wallaby, 8 months, have travelled the world in unique style. Shirley and Brian Parr have given then a welcome arrival in Ballina with their vehicle.

Hit the road, follow your dream

HERMAN and Candelaria Zapp, of Argentina, have travelled across three continents at 55km/h in a 1928-model vintage car to spread the message for others to live their dreams, whatever they may be.

The couple is still living their dream, even after four children born in different countries and clocking up 180,000 kilometres in their modified Graham-Paige vehicle, which becomes their home, too.

But not often – it’s the ‘amazing’ generosity of strangers that keeps the Zapps on the road, being offered free accommodation along the way.

Currently, they are in Ballina staying with Brian and Shirley Parr who met the Argentinean travellers at a market in Queensland’s Airlie Beach.

Herman and Candelaria have been on the road for a total of nine years, going home briefly to write a book, Spark your dream, about their first trip, a four-year adventure from Argentina to Alaska.

Sales of the book help fund their travels.

That first trip included travelling by raft, with their car, along the Amazon River before heading up to the US and Canada to the northern tip of North America.

“We we’re always dreaming to go travelling,” 41-year-old Herman said.

“But we we’re side-tracked by life. You think the right moment is going to come in the future – but they’re all excuses.

“Go for your dream, whatever it is.”

They saved up and left their jobs as an electrician and secretary to make the first trip, which was to be a six-month journey from Argentina to Alaska in the Graham, which they bought because of the simplicity of the old engine.

But after six months, they only made it to Ecuador, South America, and had run out of money.

Herman said that’s when strangers began offering help, including accommodation, repairs and getting their car shipped for free. And their dream was kept alive.

Since then, they have spent two years travelling around Argentina, three years travelling through the US and Canada, and have been in Australia for nearly 10 months, planning to head to New Zealand and Asia next.

The children have come along the way.

Their eldest child, Pampa, 7, was born in the USA, Tehue, 4, was born in Argentina, Paloma, 2, was born in Canada and Wallaby, eight months, was born in Australia.

The children all have Argentinean citizenship and the eldest is home-schooled by distance education from Argentina.